"There is no way to avoid the fact that if we released a 40MB version of Super Meat Boy it would be a shit version of the game,

It's a lose lose situation, but the fact of the matter is if we release a shitty game, we will have to live with that for the rest of our careers and have to cop to the fact that it is a shitty game."

Team Meat also said that a retail version of Super Meat Boy for the Wii is probably not going to happen either.  Sounds like you Wii owners are SOL.

via IGN

Forza Car Packs

World Class Car Pack - 200 MS Points (50% off)

Summer Velocity Car Pack - 200 MSt Points (50% off)

Exotic Car Pack - 200 MS Points (50% off)

Road & Track Car Pack, 200 MS Points (50% off)

Audi R8 LMS RC Car - 160 MS Points (50% off)

Checkered Flags - 80 MS Points (50% off)

Games on Demand

Red Dead Redemption

Prince of Persia The Forgotten Sands

Avatar Items

Bomberman LIVE

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode I

Winter Wear

Disney Sidekicks

University Collection (College Football Bowl Season)

Ninjas Collection

Game Add Ons

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam Expansion Pack - 1200 Microsoft Points (December 21)

XBLA - Holiday Specials

A World of Keflings - 800 MS Points (December 21)

Raskulls - 800 MS Points (December 29)

ilomilo - 800 MS Points (January 5)

via Major Nelson

Super Meat Boy - 800 MS points (33% off)

Comic Jumper - 800 MS points (33% off)

Toy Soldiers - 800 MS points (33% off)

Banjo Tooie - 600 MS points (50% off)

Castle Crashers - 600 MS points (50% off)

The UnderGarden - 400 MS points (50% off)

Risk Factions - 400 MS points (50% off)

After Burner Climax - 400 MS points (50% off)

Carcassonne - 400 MS points (50% off)

Borderland's Claptrap New Revolution - 400 MS points (50% off)

via Major Nelson

The $15.00 First Strike map pack includes 4 multiplayer maps, "Discovery", "Kowloon", "Stadium", and "Berlin Wall" while the zombie map is called "Ascension".  Most interestingly out of all of those maps should be Stadium which is an ice hockey stadium in the US.

via IGN

Feel like your loveable pooch in Fable III just isn't cutting it?  Or maybe you just want your dog to look more like Mr. Fluffy, your grandma's adorable poodle?  Well wish no more.

Out today is DLC for Fable III that includes three new breeds for your four legged friend.  The Poodle, German Shepard, and Doberman breeds will cost you 240 MS points.

Getting into the Christmas spirit, Lionhead also announced that you can download a Santa Hat for free for your hero to run around in.

via Lionhead Studios

The game allows users to simulate sexual acts to virtual girls using just their bodies.  A spokesperson for ThriXXX expects Microsoft to block them from being able to use Kinect's technology.

"We do not have permission from anyone on any of this stuff and have been using stuff from the hacker community to do a working prototype, following what [is] going on in that world," stated Brad Abram.

via Fox News

*Another video has surfaced. NSFW

Ubisoft is feeling the wrath of the UFC's parent company, Zuffa who feels that Ubisoft's fighting game for the Kinect, "Fighter's Uncaged" is "false association with the UFC and "deliberate" confusion in the mind of the consumer..." and is also tarnishing the UFC brand and causing them to lose money.  So what did Ubisoft do that peeved off Zuffa?  If you guessed used that phrase in their game that I asked you to say earlier, then you are correct.

Fighter's Uncaged asks gamers to become "the ultimate fighting weapon".  Apparently in Zuffa's mind, the UFC is only allowed to use that phrase and are requesting, no they are demanding, that Ubisoft gets rid of the phrase altogether in the game and that all copies of the game using that saying be destroyed.

via DailyTech

The confusion came from a tweet from Bethesda later that night in which Bethesda said, "Seeing lots of speculation about #tesv game engine. It's brand new... and it's spectacular!".  Well consider yourself confused no more, because Bethesda's Community Manager, Nick Breckon has sorted the issue out.  According to Breckon, Skyrim will feature a completely "brand new, internally created, gameplay and graphics engine".

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is coming to a PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 near you on November 11, 2011.

via GameSpy

Announced on Tuesday from Ubisoft's camp is that the next DLC coming for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood will be absolutely free just like the last DLC, Animus Project Update 1.0 released on December 14.

Animus Project Update 2.0 looks to be coming to a PS3 and Xbox 360 near you in January.  Included in 2.0 is an addition to the multiplayer called, "Chest Capture".  In Chest Capture, two teams of 3 players will be defending or capturing treasure chests.  Also included in the free DLC will be a Templar Score feature which according to Ubisoft is "reward diligent work by Abstergo recruits."

via GameSpot

Found by Eurogamer on the official website for Call of Duty Black Ops is a thread that was started in the forum for the PS3 version that has been named, "the retard 1.04 patch".  The majority of the complaints seem to be that since this patch was released, the multiplayer is pretty much unplayable with the game freezing within 5 minutes and some gamers cannot even find a match or get transmission errors.  Most of the posts consist of gamers thanking Treyarch for ruining the PS3 version of the game.

Treyarch's Josh Olin is firing back over Twitter at the angry mob of PS3 owners claiming that it has nothing to do with Treyarch and the problem is with themselves and their routers at home.

via Eurogamer

Some of you may remember back in May, some indie developers got together and put on a cool little pack of games for charity called the Humble Indie Bundle.  Enticing you with a hilarious video, you could choose how much you wanted to pay for the bundle, and how you wanted your money distributed between developers and charities.  It turned out very successful, and it seems they're at it again, with even more great games.  The best part is you can still choose what to pay.  You could donate a pittance, or you could donate a sizeable amount for bonus Karma, or "feel-good points" if you're not into that sort of thing.  Check out the video after you hit the jump 20 pixels below what you're reading right now.  Just look down a little.

If you would like to donate and/or become a contestant, you can read the rules here.  You must be a member of Gamercide.org to become a contestant.

Warner Bros. announced today that Best Buy, GameStop, and Amazon will be getting their own special editions of the upcoming Mortal Kombat.  Both stores will have their own exclusive fatalities that you will not be able to get anywhere else, in game or at another store and the characters that it will effect are some of the most popular out of the Mortal Kombat series..

One of the fatalities that will only be available with Best Buy's version is Sub Zero's Spine Rip.  You will also be able to get Sub Zero's "Klassic Sub Zero" skin from Best Buy.

On GameStop's end, you'll have access to Scorpion's original fatality, along with his "Klassic Scorpion" skin.

If you are a fan of Reptile, you'll want to preorder from Amazon.  Amazon's version will allow you to have Reptile's original fatality and his "Klassic Reptile" skin.

Do not get discouraged though.  Each character will have fatalities wherever you choose to purchase the game according to Ed Boon, the creator of Mortal Kombat stated after a warcry was sent to Ed Boon from Mortal Kombat fans everywhere.

What Ed Boon doesn't get though is that they took the most popular fatalities out of the game and made them exclusive.  Down right stupid if you ask me.  How do you feel?

via The Escapist

For The Social Gamer

The Social Gamer.  The gamer who spends their time playing games to keep in contact with friends or uses games as an attempt to make new friends.

The "I Love Farmville" Mug - $9.99, Amazon.com

This white mug is perfect for the social gamer who spends hours sitting in front of the their PC or iTouch/iPhone playing Zynga's farm building game on Facebook, Farmville.

Playfish Cash Card - $10 and $25, available at select retailers including Walmart, Walgreens, and Gamestop

Playfish is a popular social gaming company that offers game such as Country Story, Pet Society, Madden Superstars, and Restaurant City.  The Playfish Cash Cards are redeemable online via Playfish's website.  These cards can be used to make online purchases for select games where you can make purchases through coins, game currency, and the points can also be used to be certain items that otherwise unavailable.

The Sims 3 - $39.99, available online at various websites and wherever video games are sold

Not every social gamer sticks to playing gaming apps on Facebook, Myspace, and/or their smart phone.  The Sims 3 which is available on the PC, Xbox360, and PS3 allows gamers to create a virtual mini me of themselves where they can take on various jobs, eat, sleep or in some cases drink espresso, raise a family, shower, and take a number two.

Zynga Game Cards - $10.00 and up, available online and at retail stores

Everybody knows who Zynga is.  They are the creators behind some of the most popular social apps on Facebook, Myspace, Yahoo, and the iPhone.  The Zynga Game Cards can be used for Farmville, Zynga Poker, Mafia Wars, and their many other apps that Social Gamers cannot get enough of.

For the PC Gamer

The PC Gamer.  The gamer who prefers to play on a PC and argues about how much better gaming is on a PC compared to a silly console.

Hello, My Name is Leeroy Jenkins T-Shirt - $15.99 to $17.99, available online at ThinkGeek.com

Everybody knows about the character Leeroy Jenkins and the World of Warcraft incident that has taken on a life of it's own.  The video which is plastered all over

Razer Naga: MMO Gaming Mouse - $79.99, available online at ThinkGeek.com

This mouse is designed for the MMO player.  There are 17 MMO optimized buttons and you can program thousands of in game commands.  This mouse is the ultimate buy for any serious MMO gamer.

Newegg Gift Card - $10 - $2,500, available at www.newegg.com

You can't go wrong with a gift card from Newegg.com.  Accessories, storage, games, and hardware.  You name it, Newegg has it.

Logitech G15 Gaming Keyboard - $98.96, available online

This online gaming friendly keyboard lets you know what servers your friends are playing and other important information via the Logitech LCD GamePanel.  The backlit keyboard which is perfect for late night game sessions, features 6 G-keys that you can use to create macros without having to stop what you are doing.  You can manage your cords by routing them through channels that are on the underside of the keyboard making this keyboard a neat and organized gift for the PC gamer.

For the Younger Gamer

The Younger Gamer.  We all know one.  The young kid who looks to be about 10 standing in line to buy Gears of War, but is turned away by store employees do to his age or your younger brother or sister who picked up a controller at the tender age of 2 and never looked back.

Nintendo New Super Mario Bros. Mini Duffle Bag, $24.99, available in store at Toys R Us

Know a little gamer who loves Mario and Luigi and goes to sleepovers at their grandparents or friends house?  Featuring side pockets and a large pocket, this duffle bag can easily store the essentials for the little gamer on your list.

Toy Story 3 The Video Game - $29.99 to $49.99, available at video game retailers and online at GameStop.com

Disney's Toy Story 3 was not only a hit in the movie theater, but also as a video game.  Scores ranging between 7.5 on the Wii and 8-9's for the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, Toy Story 3 gained mostly positive reviews from the media and from little gamers all over.

Vtech MobiGo Touch Learning System - $55.00, available in stores and online at Vtech.com

Not every gamer is old enough to handle a PSP or Nintendo DS.  Not every parent wants their child to be playing a PSP or DS either.  This is where the Vtech MobiGo comes in.  The layout is easy to use and you can purchase educational, but fun games for it featuring Toy Story, Shrek, and others.  This handheld is perfect for on the go travel or just to get your kids learning in a fun way.

Epic Mickey - $49.99 - $69.99, available at video game retailers and online

Colorful and edgy, Epic Mickey is a must have for the older child who owns a Wii.  Epic Mickey received rave reviews from critics everywhere and was called, "The Best Wii Game" by IGN.

For the Zombie Loving Gamer

The Zombie Loving Gamer.  The gamer who cannot get enough of zombies and lives to play every zombie game around even if it is complete crap.

Resident Evil - $19.99, available online at amazon.com

Maybe you have a gamer on your shopping list that never played the game that started it all when it comes to horrifying  zombies, then this would be the perfect buy.   Or maybe you have a friend on your list that brags about how awesome and scary L4D is and you want to prove him wrong.  Set in a creepy mansion, Resident Evil has it all.  From the undead, dogs that will make you leave yellow streaks on your furniture, and crows that want nothing more than to pluck your eyes out this game is must have for anybody who loves zombies.

"I Love Zombies" Apparel - $2.50 to $35.00, available online at trainedmonkeys

This funny design for the zombie lover can be put on everything from buttons, coffee mugs, shirts, sweaters, and tanks.  They have female and male sizes so it is perfect for the male or female in your life that cannot get enough of these special undead creatures.

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War - $9.00 or below, available at Barnes and Noble

Maz Brooks retells the terrible tragedy that took place when the Zombie War fell upon us.  Featuring interviews and eyewitness reports, this novel is sure to please anybody who is preparing for the zombie apocalypse.

L4D Apparel - $15.00 - $40.00, available online at Zazzle.com

These creative zombie shirts features sayings from the L4D series.  Ranging from "Hunter on Zoey", "I survived a zombie infested carnival and I got was this gnome", "Don't Startle my Witch!" and more these shirts are sure to please the male or female L4D gamer on your list this year.

For the Console Gamer

The Console Gamer.  Lives, eat, and breathes their Wii, PS3, and/or Xbox 360.

Turtle Beach Ear Force X41 - $159.00 and up, available online and at some electronic retail stores

This wireless headset is a beast.  It features 7.1 surround sound allowing Xbox 360 gamers to hear every little in game noise possible.  Every gamer's ear deserves the best and this headset is one of the best out in the market today.

Playstation Move - $29.99 and up, available in bundles or sold separately online and at video game retailers

Sony's entry into the motion controlling craze that has seemingly taken over gaming universe is "smart".  The Move works with the Eye Toy and will select a color for your orb on the the Move depending on what colors can be distinguished amongst the rest.  The Move is wireless and charges via an USB "mini" port on the controller.  This motion controller won the 2010 Popular Science award for "Most Immersive Controller".

Super Mario Bros. All Stars Limited Edition - $29.99, available online at amazon.com and at video game retailers on December 12.

It's the 25th Anniversary of the release of Super Mario Bros. and for Wii owners who love Nintendo's flagship character, this game is perfect.  Containing all of the classic Mario games, this is sure to provide Mario lovers with hours of fun and memories from "back in the day".

Staff Recommendations

Borderlands Game of the Year Edition (w/ 4 DLC's) Obviously, I can't recommend this enough. I need more co-op partners. =] $39.99

Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged - Comes with Geometry Wars/Bejeweled 2 Deluxe, Wik - Fable of Souls/Hardwood Backgammon, Outpost Kaloki X, Texas Hold 'Em and One Month Subscription to Xbox Live. A great starter kit for any new 360 owner. $17.99

Prey $8.50 Probably the best early 360 game. It used portals before Valve had their success with Portal. Just a wonderful, often missed game. Everyone should own Prey.

Siren: I recommend the Touch Screen Rubik's Cube.  Not really a video game recommendation, but it's fun.  It'll set you back between $50 and $150 depending on where you purchase it, but it's bright and colorful and will keep your hands busy.

Star Wars Mimobot Thumb Drives, $29.99 - $34.99.  Available online at ThinkGeek.com, these cute Star Wars thumb drives can hold up to 2-4 GB of information.  You can purchase all the major characters from the Star Wars franchise including Darth Maul, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Yoda, and more.

Know somebody is pregnant and loves to game?  Courtesy of ThinkGeek.com comes the Maternity shirt that says, "Geekling Inside" on the belly.  Totally adorable and only costs $17.99 - $22.99.

Halo Risk, $39.99 and available online at ThinkGeek.com.

Three different modes, three different factions.  All Halo themed.  'Nuff said.

Available online at amazon.com for $29.99 is everybody's favorite Companion Cube.  This weighted cube will never leave your side and stick by you through thick and thin.

Players: 1

Platforms: Apple iPad (Requires iOS 3.2 or later)

Rated: 9+ (Frequent/Intense Cartoon or Fantasy Violence)

As the player you control the females (and sometimes the lazy male) of a lion pride as they stock and kill prey to feed the pride. It's simple, it's fun, it's easy to play, and hard to master. At a price of $4.99 from the iTunes App store some players may feel it's a bit steep of a price since the average App runs around $0.99 -$2.99. Well this is far from an average App.

It's difficult me for to review or recommend games for mobile platforms such as smart phones and tablets. Most of these "games" can be classified under time wasters. Not much depth, story, poor controls, repetitive action, or a simple virtual touch joystick placed in the corner to represent an 80's arcade cabinet. Blue Fang did a fantastic job developing Lion Pride HUGE for the iPad. It feels like before the development of the game they sat down with an iPad and figured how to make it's game control work with iPads touch screen. Your finger is the control and it's one of the better uses of this interface and at no point will you find yourself missing a target or looking for a button/controller that your hand is blocking.

The controls are simple .. tap lioness, draw a slow stroke line slowly to stalk unsuspecting prey, draw a quick stroke line to make the lioness run, double tap to stun prey, lather--rise--repeat. It's simple, intuitive, and easy. You instantly understand how to play so the learning curve is pretty low making this game easily accessible to everyone.

Music gets a little repetitive, but that's okay. It's catchy, light hearted and enjoyable to listen too The sound effects more than make up for it. The cartoon sounds of the lioness, boars, zebras, and other animals more than make it for it. You'll need to listen to these sounds closely unless you goal is to allow Hyena's to carry off your cubs. If you grow tired of the soundtrack you can aways just turn on the iPod function and listen to your own music along with the sound effects of the game. Just make sure you do it BEFORE starting your game. Being able to create your own sound track is a feature lacking in many games right now and it's a pleasant surprise to find games that allow you do this. Also the game is simple enough that you could listen to audio books or podcasts while you play.

Level design is simple .. you're in Africa .. it's big, it's flat, it's empty. Plenty of room to move and set up ambushes using multiple lioness. This also allows the prey to escape easily if your are not paying enough attention. You can easily play the game in a frenzied button mashing/finger swiping way, but if you want a decent score .. well then you're going to have to use your brain a little harder. Strategy is key to achieving a higher score. You'll find yourself coming back to early levels and playing them multiple times trying to increase your high score. This is far from frustrating, because Blue Fang was kind enough to offer a well written tutorial section and they also provide hints for each level. Love or hate Apple products the iPad is a strong and well built device and during some of the more frenzied killing sprees you'll never find your self thinking .. "Oh My GOD!! I'm going to break my iPad". So that's another plus to playing this game on the iPad.

OpenFeint allows you to post your score, access to forums and chats, invite friends and see leader boards. It's a nice feature, but not one that effects game play. Something I liked a lot was not actually part of the game itself. There's a selection called "Fun Facts" that provide interesting facts of the animals in game. .. it's just .. well .. fun to read! The art style of the game if well done. It's fun, bright, has great character and menu designs, and it's easy to navigate.

To sum up Lion Pride HUGE can be done in a single sentence. "Fun and easy to play, difficult to master." The game is simple but far from boring and you'll likely find yourself thinking why you are up past midnight playing this in bed when you have a 9am meeting tomorrow. Okay just one more level, then I'm done. I really like this game .. it's fun .. it's cheap .. it works (I didn't come across any bugs), it's a great addition to anyones iPad App Library for kids in the car or waiting at the airport for your plane to arrive. Plus the guys at Blue Fang are great people. They love what they do and they appreciate their fans.

What else can I say . .. if you have an iPad pick this game up. If not, and are planning on purchasing a different tablet, keep an eye out for this game to show up. You'll be pleased you did.

Written by: Kevin English (Super Kev 1000)

Deal of the Week

Polar Panic - 400 MS points

Burton Snowboard - 120 MS points

Burton Red Hi Fi Helmet - 80 MS points

Gingerbread Man - 120 MS points

Gears of War 2 Snowblind Map Pack - 160 MS points

3 on 3 NHL Arcade - 200 MS points

Games on Demand

Army of TWO 40th Day

Game Add Ons

Pinball FX2: Marvel Comic Table Pack - 800 MS points

Avatar Marketplace

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II

Holiday Collection

Coming soon....

December 22 - A World of Keflings 800 MS points

December 29 - Raskulls 800 MS points

January 5 - ilomilo 800 MS points

via Major Nelson

The phone which looks to be about as wide and thick as a feminine napkin, features Playstation Buttons and at about 13 seconds you can spy an app that has Playstation under it fueling rumors that there will be some kind of Playstation game support.

via

• Worms 2: Armageddon is 400 MS points
• Band of Bugs is 400 points
• Earthworm Jim HD is 400 points
• Centipede & Millipede is 400 points

You have until Monday, December 6 to purchase these XBLA games at their discounted price.

via Major Nelson

Also announced today via Major Nelson's blog is the addition of a holiday promotion from Microsoft.    From November 16 until November 22, if you spend 1600 MS points on select Microsoft Game Studios Games on the XBLA, you will receive 400 MS points back in return.  For a complete list of XBLA games that qualify and details on how to register for the promotion, head on over to Xbox.com.

Ubisoft says that both Driver: San Fransico and Ghost Recon: Future Soldier will be releasing now sometime in their 2011-2012  lineup.  There have been comments as to why both games have been delayed and why Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is now on it's second delay.

G4tv.com

According to MCV, the two retailers who are unknown at this point are claiming that Steam is ruining the PC market and that Valve has created a monster.  One of the bosses even had the following to say.

"If we have a digital service, then I don’t want to start selling a rival in-store...

“Publishers are creating a monster ­– we are telling suppliers to stop using Steam in their games.”

What do you think?  Has Valve created a monster and in doing so, have they begun destroying the market of PC games?

As reported on Eurogamer, Bobby Kotick, Activision's CEO was extremely pleased with Black Ops first day numbers.  "The game's success underscores the pop culture appeal of the brand. Call of Duty: Black Ops is the finest game that Treyarch has ever made and raises the bar for online gameplay by delivering the deepest and most intense Call of Duty experience yet."

Black Ops has already outsold Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare 2 who managed to make $4.7 million on day one.

Faery: Legends of Avalon

Developed By:  Spiders Studios

Price: 1200 MS points

"Magic, battles against fearsome monsters, original creatures, colorful characters, a great story to support the main quest and many side quests, for 10-15 hours of gameplay..." ~ Faerythegame.com

Guwange

Developed By:  Cave

Price:  800 MS points

"The story of Guwange is set during the Muromachi period of Japan. During this time, increasing numbers of people suffer possession by shikigami. Although the shikigami grant great spiritual powers, the strain inflicted on the host causes them to die exactly one year after possession. However, a legend has sprung up regarding Guwange, the malevolent god trapped in Mt. Gokumon (i.e. Hell Gate). If one possessed by a shikigami can gather talismans of the five Chinese elements--wood, fire, earth, metal, water--from five demons serving Guwange, then infiltrate Gokumon and slay Guwange, the shikigami will be destroyed and the one possessed will not suffer a premature death." ~ Guwange

The UnderGarden

Developed By:  Vitamin G Studios

Price:  800 MS points

"The Undergarden is a casual zen game that challenges players to explore underground caverns filled with strange life forms, sound, music and plenty of hidden secrets. Players traverse the Undergarden world in search of members of their musical band.  Along the way they encounter physics based puzzles to be solved, strange life forms that must be befriended or avoided, and magical plant life that reacts to the music created around them." ~ Vitamin G Studios

Alan Wake

In May 2010, Remedy and Microsoft finally released long awaited and very overdue survival horror title, Alan Wake.

You take control of Alan Wake who is a best selling author.  Unfortunately he has been suffering from writer's block and has been unsuccessful in writing another novel.  Alan and his wife, Alice travel to the small, but beautfiul town of Bright Falls to help him reopen his mind and let his imagination flow through his fingers and into another novel.

Upon entering Bright Falls, you are to assume that this sleepy little town surrounded by beautiful landscapes and never ending mountains, is well, normal.  You quickly learn that is not the case as you find yourself looking for answers as to what exactly happened to your wife at the cabin on Cauldron Lake.  Did she really fall into the merky waters surrounding the small cabin or has Alan simply lost his mind and living in a fantasy world of one of his best selling novels?  As Alan tries to work through it all, he is armed with a flashlight while being chased through the dark and deadly woods by "The Taken" which have taken over the townspeople and controlling vehicles and machinery around Bright Falls.

So what made Alan Wake so scary?

Siren Says: Alan Wake is almost a total package.  While it is missing some classic survival horror mainstays, it makes up for that in story and being able to make the gamer get so engrossed in the game, that they forget where they are and in that instant are actually living Alan Wake's life.  The sound effects and the constant feeling that you are alone while traversing through the dark and lonely woods of Bright Falls makes Alan Wake one of the most bone chilling games I ever played.  In fact, I was never able to beat it, because of that.  Everytime I go to put it into my 360, I stop, because all I can hear is "The Taken" in my head.

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem

Originally developed for the N64, Silicon Knight's Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem later found it's way onto Nintendo's tiny console, the Gamecube in late 2002.  This mind freakingly extraodinary entry into the survival horror genre won quick praise from gamers and the media.

Throughout Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem you play as the Buffy resembling, Alexandra Roivas who is attempting to figure out why her grandfather was murdered.  Alexandra arrives at her grandfather's sprawling mansion and discovers a book titled, "The Tome of Eternal Darkness".   Upon reading the book, you find yourself reliving the stories in the book.  There are many characters throughout different time periods that you must play as in order to discover the secrets behind Alexandra's ancestors.

During the gameplay, Eternal Darkness incorporates the "Sanity Meter".  The "Sanity Meter" represents the character's overall sanity.  When certain events are triggered in the game, the character's meter will start to go down causing the player to experience some sanity effects.  Some of the sanity effects are bleeding walls, the volume appearing to be turned down on your television and a fake volume meter is displayed on your screen, and the appearance of monsters that upon being attacked, disappear into thin air as if they were never there.  There are a host of other sanity effects besides the one's mentioned.

So what makes Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem frightening?

Siren Says:  Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem is perhaps one of the most underrated games of it's time.  This game had it all, along with the ability to cause the gamer to question their own sanity when the sanity effects began.  I remember playing this game at night and having to turn the light on, because I thought I heard a woman's voice and here it was from the game's sanity effects.

Resident Evil

Sony's Playstation was the first console to show off Capcom's new and unforgettable zombie loving series, Resident Evil.  One of the truest forms of the survival horror genre to ever be released, eventually showed up on the Sega Saturn and received an incredible graphic makeover for the Nintendo Gamecube.

The one that started it all, Resident Evil introduced zombies so terrifying that one undead beast was enough to make gamer's find themselves sitting in a warm yellow puddle and dogs so shockingly disturbing, that it left gamer's gripping their controllers out of sheer terror.

Gamers found themselves taking control of either the powerhouse Chris Redfield or the smaller, but faster Jill Valentine while they were investigating the mysterious murders within Raccoon City that led them to a seemingly harmless abandoned mansion.  Upon entry, Jill and Chris along with the other members of STARS Alpha team quickly discover that something more sinister and deadly has begun taking over. 

With every door that needed to be opened and the creeking that followed, Resident Evil showed signs at the very beginning that this game mastered everything a survival horror game should be and then some.

Siren Says:  Crows, dogs, zombies, and breaking glass.  This game terrified the sh*t out of me and still does.  I can't even gather the words to describe how bone chilling this game is to me.

Silent Hill 2

James Sunderland is lured to Silent Hill to figure out why he received a letter from his deceased wife Mary in Team Silent and Konami's Silent Hill 2 for the Playstation 2 and Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams for the Xbox.

When entering the dreary and foggy town of Silent Hill, James meets a young woman who looks strikingly like his dead wife, Mary.  Maria is killed by the towering and freakishly scary Pyramid Head, but later reappears not knowing what James is talking about when he tries to figure out why the woman he just saw die, is sitting in front of him in a locked cell.  As he sets out to try and free Maria who begins to talk about his life with Mary, James comes across disturbing nurses and of course the huge knife wielding Pyramid Head.  One sound of the knife sliding across the floor as Pyramid Head loomed closer sent gamers running for the closest door.

While wondering through the many creepy places of Silent Hill, James discovers a radio that seems to locate enemies when they are within close range.  One sound of static and gamers find themselves fumbling to switch off their flashlight and wondering which direction the enemy is coming from.

Silent Hill 2 boasts six different endings depending on your actions taken throughout the game.

So what makes Silent Hill so creepy?

Siren Says:  It's not exactly the scariest game out there, but it is definitely one of the creepiest with the game's overall sound.  Silent Hill 2 has the ability to get into one's head with just the sound of Pyramid Head's knife scraping across the floor.  That game still makes me shudder and I could never finish it, because of that.

There you have it.  That is the list of games that are so bone chilling I will never play them again.  Here are what Gamerciders had to say about their most bone chilling played games.

"Condemned: Criminal Origins.   Scariest use of an abandoned mannequin warehouse EVER. Playing that game always puts me on edge.

Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. That game was da SHIZNAT back in the day. I can't believe how awesome the "Sanity Meter" was and the weird and effed up stuff the game would do to you" -CoyAndChris 

"Fatal Frame 1 and 2. My wife and I played Fatal Frame 2 while we were house sitting for a friend out in Penn. He lived in a very nice gated community with a huge deer population/problem. We played it at night with the lights off and there were deer wandering around the yard and looking into the windows. Scared the hell out of both of us so we shut the game off." -Super Kev 1000

" Not much of a Horror genre gamer but Dead Space made me jump a few times." -Chinese Baboon

"Dead Space puts me on edge more than anything, and the latest game to give me a scare was Alan Wake. That stupid old woman pops up in your vision when you're not expecting it. I think I have a video clip of that somewhere." -Dateranoth

"Just playing Dead space now and it has made me jump, the splicer in Bioshock that would show up right behind you would get me every time. " -Dubl Duece

"This is a game another member of Gamercide can relate to as well, since we both played it together at the same time. Condemned 2 was the game that I have gotten quite a few scares out of. The lights off and the TV very loud makes this a truly horrifying experience. David (Bacon V3) and I would start the game at the exact same moment and go through the game simultaneously while we chatted in party chat. There were a lot of screams to be heard. I think I probably screamed my loudest due to fear because of that game. Needless to say, neither I nor David have finished it yet." -SycoYAFF

" Fear. Nuff said." -MajorWhiteBoy

"The beginning of Bioshock was pretty creepy, but not the entire game.  Dead Space however... I never completed the game, lol" -Skylark95

" The only game I can really recall making me jumpy was Condemned: Criminal Origins. The way the game was pretty much always dark, as well as focusing heavily on close combat and tight spaces to navigate in made the experience a lot more creepy. Not to mention the mannequin level, and the way the enemies would pop out at you constantly when you least expect it." -Elite Effect

"I don't think there's been a game that has truly ever scared me, but there are plenty that have made me jump. When the berserker made its appearance in Gears of War was a memorable moment for me. I literally jumped when it busted through the wall the first time. Other games like Bioshock, the Resident Evil series and a few others have done that to me too, but it wasn't a lasting or deep scare that went beyond being surprised and caught off guard." -Pogre

The Suffering is just plain creepy. The enemies are made up of different things, like hypodermic needle fingers, and blade arms. With Amnesia, it's all about the immersion and the fact you can't defend yourself. There are no weapons. You must use a cool head, and find other ways through the game without dying or losing your sanity."       -PeeKnuckle

" The scariest game I've ever played was Max Payne. That dream sequence was too creepy. Next on the list would be The Darkness. As soon as I got my darkness power, I got a pit in my stomach and got scared as hell." -eminutia

"I don't realy play scary games lol.... cause i know ill just turn it off.  Last game that made me do that was Doom 3..... I know..I'm a sissy." -Kira Onime

"I know this may sound weird but a level in Banjo Kazooie scared me. The one with the big metal shark, you swim through a tube and you can see his face at the end, I couldn't finish it because I couldn't get close enough. Around the time Golden Eye came out I started having a fear of first person shooters and it took me years to get over it. I'm really not sure why but just sitting an anticipating an enemy coming around the corner made stuff leak down my leg." -Green Grenades

" The game that scared me the most was the original Resident Evil. There were so many moments where you would get attacked unexpectedly. You approach a door to open it it, only to have a zombie break it down just as you get there. The moment where the dogs crash through the hallway windows was another one. The only game that could even come close to Resident Evil for me was Bioshock, but having preceded that game by almost a decade Resident Evil holds a place in my heart as the first and best horror game I've played.

Another had to be in metal gear solid. The fight with Psycho Mantis has to be one of the first gaming moments to break that barrier between game and reality. The way it seemed to know things (by way of reading the memory card) was the freakiest moment for me. For a game like MGS to actually get me to shut the game down because i was so freaked out is a a feeling i'll never forget, and what is a developers purpose but to create a game that will create a lasting impact that won't be forgotten. " -LGWyant

"Resident Evil was the first, Fear was the second, then Condemned came along and topped them all. The atmosphere in that game was intense and nothing is scarier than your own imagination. They used both those elements to make the ultimate scare factor. If you have not played the first Condemned, try it with ALL the lights out and surround sound. On Halloween. In a empty house. At night." -towncryer

" Condemned 1 (not 2!) and RE1. RE1 I think was the scariest. I never beat it, sh*t just kept flying out of closets at me and I couldn't take it lol." -Banstyle

" Bioshock 1 gave me a chill, I remember I was doing something one time in a corner and out of no where I turn around (after I thought I killed everyone) i saw a damn clown looking dude. I was like confused and actually jumped in my seat." -UND3RxOATH

Oregon Trail

 Hands down, Oregon Trail would be an instant hit.  How many of you remember fighting your classmates in elementary school just to play this game for 15 minutes?  Or racing home to your PC just to make sure that your latest enemy in school got a case of dysentary, because they laughed at you for wearing that knit shirt that your grandma bought you for Christams?

In Oregon Trail, you take on the role of a leader that is trying to get his group of settlers to Oregon's Willamette Valley from Independence, Missouri in 1848.  Along your trek you face different types of diseases, wagon breakdowns, animal deaths, and settler deaths.   When one of your settlers died in your party, you could write an epitaph that would show at the brief funeral ceremony.  Another key part in Oregon Trail was the ability to hunt.  Little PC gamers could hunt big and small game with bullets and weapons that were purchased throughout the game.  All of this added to the educational benefits that children and adults (yes you) received when they sat down to play the game.

Siren Says:  Oregon Trail should release for 400 MS points on the XBLA.

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

 Broderbund Software first unleashed this addictive detective style game in 1985.  It's main purpose was for educational use, but it became a huge success spawning sequels and a television show.

Carmen Sandiego led young PC gamers across the globe trying to track down her whereabouts by gathering clues and finding her henchmen.  The ultimate goal was to issue an arrest warrant for Carmen Sandiego and put her behind bars before the deadline was up.  If you missed the deadline, you lost the game and the villian escaped.

Siren Says:  Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego would be a great family friendly game for the younger generation that are playing XBL.  400 MS points and I would be sold.

Myst

 This  first person point and click adventure was one of the most successful games during it's time and paved the way for many point and click adventure games like Myst and not to mention a host of sequels in the Myst series and spinoffs including Uru and Riven.

 In the original Myst which debuted in September 24, 1993 for the PC and later for the Sega Saturn and Playstion, you play as a person who finds a book called, "Myst".  Upon reading the book, you are taken away to the world of Myst where you have to discover what happened to Atrus who leaves clues around the island.  As you walk around the island you find a library which introduces Atrus's sons, Sirrus and Archer.  One is trapped in a blue book, while the other is trapped in a red book.  Both are asking for you to bring them their red or blue colored pages.  As you travel across the "Ages" and bring the pages back and stick them in their respective books, the plot is uncovered and you must decide who you want to help.  The game has several different endings depending on the choices that you make.

Siren Says: If this game were to ever release on the XBLA I would wet my pants.  Seriously....I still play this game on my PC.  I say this is one of those games that would be worth 1200 MS points.

Voodoo Vince

This little voodoo doll was easily one of the best platform games that came to the original big black box on September 23, 2004.

As Voodoo Vince, you found youself playing through the monster infested streets of New Orleans in order to rescue your maker Madam Charmaine, who owns a voodoo store in the French Quarter of New Orleans.  Along your adventure, Vince uses classic voodoo doll style attacks like sticking yourself with needles to take down enemies and bosses.  Vince also has standard attack moves that involve punching and kicking.

Voodoo Vince gives gamers an authentic New Orleans experience with southern New Orleans accents and heavy jazz soundtrack.

Siren Says:  Voodoo Vince was one of the best games that I ever played.  Release it for 800 MS points on the XBLA.

Bottom line, I am sick of seeing the countless number of anime and classic games that I can play at the local arcade for a cheaper price.  Give me something that I will want to play repeatedly instead of something that I want just for 12 lousy achievements to boost my gamerscore up 200 points and then is forgotten about and sits among my other 100 something arcade titles collecting dust.

Gamerciders, do you agree or disagree?  Is the XBLA digging itself a hole with it's high prices and "forget me" games?  Or do you think the XBLA is doing just fine and will continue to plunk down the moolah on future titles and what titles would you like to see come to the arcade?